Coupling



R. M. SHERMAN ET AL COUPLING May 12, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 7, 1949 lllllllli May 12, 1953 RQM. SHERMAN Erm. i 2,638,362

coUPLING y Filed Oct. 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 330 28 334 3.32 27 325 Ingla.

' 7 2.9 33/ 326 340 327 3 /3 AZN l INVENTORS ROGER M. SHERMAN ALEXANDE'HSMld/#LGARDT ATTORNEY May 1,2, 1953 R.- M. SHERMAN ETAI. 2,638,362

V COUPLING Filed Oct. 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gz 2f-:29.12

y l I/ m ROGER M ffii/@52W 672 630 6'25' ALEX/w05?? s. MUL LGA/wr c/ or E. RAY

. ATTORNEY cordance with United States Revised Statutes, section 4888, the description is specific, but the invention is not intended to be limited hereby to these illustrative embodiments.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation partly in section showing the ends of two pipe sections, one having a. male coupling element secured to it and the other a mating female coupling element, bothconstructed according tothe principles of this invention. The pipes are shown apart, ready to be coupled together. In this form of the invention the inner gasket lip is made enough smaller than the spherical-ended male coupling element so that there wiil be a snug friction t between these parts when they are engaged with each other.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of the upper part of the coupling shown in Fig. 1 with the male coupling member inserted about all the way into the female coupling member; in this position the pipes are not yet locked, because no pressure has yet vbeen put on the fiuid in the pipe line.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the coupling elements in locked position. Here the fluid pressure has moved the gasket and the male coupling member to the left, and as it did so the gasket moved the locking spring ahead of it and down into its locking position.

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section on the same scale as Fig. l, but with the parts in locked position. The view is taken in the direction indicated by the line 4--4 in Fig. 3; a portion of the spring is broken away to show the parts behind it. The dotted line 22 denotes the maximum diameter of the male element.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention. The female element differs in the form of stop employed at its inner end to limit the movement of the gasket in l;

that direction and also in that a looser fitting gasket is employed.

Fig. 6 is a view of the Fig. 5 modification similar to Fig. 3, with the coupling in its locked position. l

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 'l-'l in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 6 showing another modied form of the invention, with the parts in locked position. In this modification a different form of stop is shown, the gasket differs in having a small spring incorporated in its heel portion, and the male coupler also diifers in that it has a short cylindrical portion to extend the spherical male member.

Fig. 9 is a view in section, on the scale of Fig. l, of the vcomplete coupling of the type shown in Fig. 8. 'The location of the section'is indicated by the line 9--9 in Fig. 8. This viewshows the the notched ring stop employed in this form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation and partly in section similar to Fig. 1 'showing another modified form of the invention. The pipes are shown apart ready to be coupled together. In this form of the invention the" gasket has a loose sliding fit on the male member and moves axially farther than the inserted male member when the iiuid pressure comes on the line. Also the locking spring in its at rest position has an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the ball-like male member.

the coupling is not yet locked because no pressure has been put on the fluid in the pipe line.

Fig. l2 is a View of the Fig. l0 modiiication similar to Fig. 3, with the coupling elements in locked position showing that the male member has` moved very little axially over its position in Fig. l1.

Fig. 13 is a view in elevation and partly in section of another modified form of the invention, having a two-part severable bell. The coupling is here shown in its locked position, with, the tivo parts of the bell joined together.

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 13 showing the two parts of the bell disconnected so that the pipe can be disconnected even when the fluid pressure in the pipe might prevent the ball from being withdrawn from the bell in the normal manner.

Fig. l5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of the device of Figs. 13 and le shown with the parts in: inserted but unlocked position, similar to Fig. 2.

Figs. 16 and 17 are views in elevation and in section indicating the relation between possible stable disalignment and the diameter of the coupling ball, for a given. size of pipe. Fig. 16 shows a smaller diameter ball in' its two extreme positions of disalignment, the lower position being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 17 is a similar view of a pipe of the same size coupled by a larger diameter ball, so that the pipe can be disaligned over a larger angle.

In all forms of the invention shown here, the male coupling member terminates in a generally spherical surface or ball. The female member has a flared bell-like member to receive the male member. In this flared member a gasket and a spring are positioned, the latter being retained within the member by a turned-in lip. The male member is inserted into the female member past the spring and in engagement with the pistonlike gasket. When water or other iiuid under pressure passes through the pipe line, the gasket and the spring move toward the lip in the female member. This causes the spring diameter to diminish because of the tapered wall until the spring comes to rest against the lip. Further movement of the male member brings its ball portion against the spring. Since in this position the springs inside diameter is smaller than the male members outside diameter there is a positive interlock of the coupling parts.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4 is distinguished from the other forms illustrated here by having a gasket Whose inner lip is snugly engaged with the .ball on the. male member when the latter is inserted into the female member so that it moves outwardly with the male coupling member more or less as a unit from the inner position (Fig. 2) to the locked position (Fig. 3) as the pressure comes on the line. With the other structures the gasket is free to slide over the ball as it is moved by the fluid pressure and moves the looking spring into position. However, the construction of the coupling parts shown in Figs. l to 4 may also be used with a freer-fitting gasket, such as that shown in Figs.

y5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Referring to Figs. 1 to l, there are two pipes I and Il which are to be coupled together. A male coupling element l2 is secured to the pipe I0, and a female coupling element i3 is secured to the pipe Il. The coupling members l2 and I3 may be bolted, welded or attached to the pipes I0 and I l in any convenient way. i-Iere, they are show-n press ntted .at il and t5 into ends or their respective pipes;

The male lcoupling element l2 comprises a head or ball portion 20 oi approximately '30 included angle of a sphere. For four-inch pipe, the sphere may have a radius .of about two :and 'seven-'sixteen'ths inches. :other sizes'would be .in propertion. The head tu Vmay he spun. or formed by dies, or Ima-de `in any other convenient manner. Preferably the shape is 'substantiaily spherical, but it need not be exactly so, so long as it is generally hall-like. The outer end 2i of the ball 2B vis shown as approximately the same. diameter as the pipe l0. The portion .22 of Widest. diameter is shown 4about 25% larger in diameter.

The female coupling element is includes a widely r'lared sleeve or bell portion 225. From its press-fit end iii the bell 25 is flared outsomewhat radially at 26 and then axiaily to form a substantially cylindrical section 2'! which is the Widest portion. of the bell. For la four-inch pipe this Idiameter he about 6.1/4 inches. From the cylindrical 'section 21 the bell is tapered inwardly at 23 to form a substantially conical segment, and then it .is bent inward radially to form a lip 29. The part played by these several portions of the bell will be explained presently.

Fitted into the bell 2.5 is a .gasket 3B which may be split at 3i to form an outer lip 32 .in engagement With the cylindrical portion of the bell 25, and an inner .lip 33 which can engage the ball portion 2i! lof t-he male element iii when that is inserted. There is also a substantial heel portion 34 from Which the lips 32 and 33 extend. Preferably the gasket im, if it is to have a snug rit on the ball 22, Will have a relatively thi-ck inner lip 33, and the inner edge of the lip at (for a four-inch pipe) will be about of an inch smaller in inside diameter than the mariml-lm diameter 22 'oi the spherical ball. rEhe outer .lip (iii will he about or an inch larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of the cylindrical portion 2l of the bell. It will then slide easily in yau Vaxial direction within the port-ion El' but will seal against the Wall I2l! to prevent any leakage through the joint to the outside.

Also inside the bell 25 and next to the gasket Sie, is a garter type locking sprintf, Ml, usually made of a single piece of wire- When its ends are joined to form it .into a ring its outside diameter is preferably large enough to urevent its falling out of. the yhell 2E and inside `diatrieter should he somewhat less than the outside diameter 2R of the ball. The ydiarmeier of the coils oi the spring, as shown in 3, should he such that the spring 40 will rest in the hell end at 2t, and the contracted inside diameter of the sprintf: 4i will be smaller than the outside diameter r2 of the bail Ztl. This gives a positive mechanical interlock. v

Before the coupling elements are out together the spring lil and gasket 3i) are about as 'shown in Fig. l. At least as the ball 20 starts to enter the bell it will move the gasket 30 `subst-entially against the outer end of the radially iiared section 25. This Will hold the gasket 3i in posiF tion While the ball 20 slides into a snug t inside the gasket lip 33 as Vshown in. Fig. 2. In this inward movement the ball 2l) may come into contact with the inner end 42 of the radially iared section 25 which acts as a stop. parts remain in this position until fluid is introduced into the pipe and a fluid pressure builds up.

When this pressure builds up in the pipe line each adjacent pair or pipes Hl and il will start escasos. v

to move apart .axialiy with the result that 'coupling parts i2 and i3 move apart. Pressure could fbe held in the pipe line because in each '.oispiingv the lip 32 is scaled against the hell 25 and the 'lip t3 ysealed on the ball 2Q. ln the position shown in Fig. .2, the parts are sealed but are not yet .interlociied The interlocking of the coupling hall 2i: inside the bel-l 25 is eiect'ed as the fluid pressure in the pipe line presses against the gasket 3S and the snug fit :of the lip 33 on the ball ii@ combines with the axial movement of the ball 2o and of the hell 25 and :causes the gasket end Si to force the spring di) along the tapered bell section iii, until the spring Ll seats against the lip 2S of the bell, as shown in Fig. 3.

The ball 2Q is caught and .locked by the spring lil before the ball has moved too far out oi the bcll 25 because the spacing of the ange 2t in relation to the axiallength of the gasket Sil, the diameter of the spring M, the spacing of the lip 29, and the distance the ball 2d can be insered into the bell is-ealculated so that when the ball Zlfmoves from its position as in Fig. 2 to its position Vas in Fig. 3, the soriu.-3 fifi) will have moved Adown the tapered portion it to engage the .ball in a positive mechanical interlock. If the spring it is seated against the lip 29 before the .ball 2li engages the spring (it, the lip 33 will slide on the ball 2t to permit the parts to come into the position shown in Fig. 3. The coupling is now in positive locked position. Each coupling if let alone will remainl securely locked, even when the iluid pressure drops to zero, because ci the snug iit of the gasket lip 33 on the ball iii.

'Se long as each coupling is locked and conu tai-os fluid under some pressure the adjacent pipes and coupling members i2 and i3 may be misalisned about 12 in any direction vrihout unlocsing the coupling or causing any leasing. This means that a pipe line having' a, plurality of pipes 'each connected to its adjacent pipe With this coupling can be laid on uneven ground and in curved paths.

The pipe sections lil and il are easily un coupled. when the uuid pressure is at zero. It is done by rotating one pipe relative to the other about its axis. This rotation moves the ball 25J relative to the hell 25 with the result that the convolutions 'of the coil spring locking ring are moved in angular relation to the yradius of the and consequently the gasket 3i! and the spring 'til more back int-o the cyiindrical portion 2T of the bell and the hall 2t slides out of the embrace of the gasket lip 33 and out of the bell 25. A certain amount of movement of the coupling parts/axially also 'facilitates the uncoupling.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to '7 is basically similar to the ons shown in Figs. i to 4 and like parts are similarly numbered. The bell 625 of the Icoupler member H3 is like the hell Z5 of the coupler i3, except for the form of the stop for the gasket which is diflerent from the 2:6 on coupicr i3. This stop may comprise a ri'ohed portion i535, having vertical portions 27 to act as a stop for positioning the gasket lilli in relation to the ball 2t. The recesses |28 permit the entry 0i iiuid past the stop to the gasket 36. The cylindrical portion 2l, the tapered Aportieri 23, and the lip 2Q are the same as in the device of Figs.' 1 to 4.

In this mo'dic'ation the gasket is different in that its inner lip 33 is thin and is made with only about 3*-2 of an inch smaller inside diameter than the outside diameter of the ball 2li. The

result is-thatthere is enough contact of the lip |33 on the ball 20 and of the lip |32 on the cylindrical wall 21 to seal at thesepoints, but the relatively light contact of the lip |33 on the ball 20 will cause the gasket to move as a piston be. tween the wall 21 and the ball 2li and to push the spring 40 against the lip 29 well ahead of the ball 2U coming into Contact with the spring 4S.

The coupler 20 is inserted until it approaches or rests against the ribs |21, slipping easily past the gasket |30. (See Fig. 5.) When fluid pressure comes in the line the ball 2li and the bell |25 move apart, the gasket |35 moves more rapidly than the ball 2D, because it has less mass and slides easily over the fball. The gasket |3 moves the spring 4|) ahead of it and against the lip 29. The ball 2S continues to move until it is positively stopped by the spring 4B. The joint is then secure and will hold until the couplers I2 and ||3 are twisted relatively to each other, to permit the spring 4t to move back to its Fig. 5 position so the ball 20 is released.

The form of invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar in most respects to the form shown in Figs. 5-7. A different form of stop is employed, comprising a notched ring 221 which may be Welded into a coupling 2|3 adjacent the cylindrical portion 21 of its bell 225, at the upper end of its radially flared portion 226. The ring 221 has a plurality of notches 228 along its inside circumference. These notches permit the passage of suiicient fluid pressure into the bell 225 to move the gasket 230.

Here, for purposes of illustration, a different form of male coupler 2l?. is also shown. The ball 220 is generally spherical but has a short cylindrical section 223 at the point of maximum diameter. This section 223 may be about 378 of an inch long for a four-inch pipe coupler. The cylindrical section 223 provides a low-friction surface over which the lightly pressing gasket 235 may slide more easily than over a true sphere.

The gasket 230 is split at 23| between its lips 232 and 233. Into its heel 234 is bonded, or otherwise incorporated, a small-diameter close-wound garter spring 235. This spring 235 provides a metallic wear surface in Contact with the locking spring ll and thereby protects the gasket 23B from being worn out too fast. The spring 235 is readily deformed for insertion of the gasket 230 and when inserted springs back into shape. For a four inch pipe, the springmay be about of an inch in outside diameter and be made from se of an inch spring Wire.

Figs. --12 show another modified form of the invention, somewhat similar to the form just discussed in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, but having some other features. In some pipe lines where there are many sections joined together, the linear amount of outward axial movement at each coupling multiplied by the number of sections might be troublesome, so the present modiiication keeps this linear movement to a minimum.

Here the couplers are denoted by the numbers 3|2 and 3|3. The bell 325 of the female coupler 3|3 is generally similarto the bell 225, but the stop ring 321 is welded to it further along the cylindrical section 21, instead of near its radially ilared portion 325. The reason for this is that the bell 326 in this modification is to have a very short end play, or linear movement between its maximum inserted position and its locked position. The gasket 330 rests against the stop ring 321wh-en thecouplings are unjoined (Fig. 10) or when the male coupler is fully inserted (Fig. il). The gasket 333 is split at 33| to provide two easily deflected lips 332 and 333. Its heel 3312- abuts the spring 343.

In this modification the spring 343 has an inside diameter substantially smaller than the outside diameter of the ball 32B, even when the spring 3453 is in its relaxed position (see Fig. 10). Its diameter is however, large enough so that it will not fall out of the bell 325.

When the ball 32B` is inserted, it expands the spring 343 and by the time the ball touches the stop 321, the spring 34D will have passed over the top of the ball and will have moved itself down on the ball as it contracts (see Fig. 11). When the iluid pressure comes on, it immediately moves the gasket 33t toward the spring and pushes the spring into its locking position, all before the pressure is suflicient to move the coupling members apart. The ball 323 will move only about of an inch during this locking step, in contrast with, approximately 5A; of an inch for the other forms shown. This becomes important in long strings of pipe where the expansion in the line should be limited. An expansion of 5/8 of an inch at each joint may become several feet in a long string composed of many sections. With this modified form of the invention the expansion will be slight and not of much consequence.

Another feature of this form of the invention is that the inside diameter of the spring 34D, being substantially smaller than the outside diameter of the ball, the pipe will remain coupled under quite strong pulling forces even when there is no iluid under pressure in the pipe line. Thus a string of pipe, already coupled, may be dragged around a neld by a tractor with a substantial saving in time, where heretofore each section had to be uncoupledA and recoupled in the new location. A four-inch pipe of this type has been subjected to a 2500 pound pull without coming apart or damaging the coupling. Curiously enough, when it is desired to uncouple a section 1t can be done by rotating one coupling member reliaitive to the other while exerting a slight axial pu Still another advantage of this form of the invention is derived from the support which the ring 321 gives to the ball 32E). If pipe has to lie in the open field under a beating sun, temperatures of and more may be developed. When the gasket alone is the sole support for the male coupler, as in the couplings shown. in Figs. 3, 6, and 8, this heat and weight may cause a permanent set of deformation in the gasket and a leak may develop. A new gasket will then be needed. Fig. 12 shows that the clearance between the ring 321 and ball 32E) in this form of the invention is slight. and on the bottom side the ball 32B will in time come to rest on the ring 321.` This limits its ability to further deform the gasket and the life of the gasket is prolonged.

The modification shown in Figs. 13 to 15 is particularly well suited to the solution of another typey of problem which occurs with irrigation pipe. Sometimes couplings of the types heretofore described cannot be uncoupled easily after the water ceases to flow. This is true in the case where a string of pipe dips down into and out of a gully. In this case there is considerable standing water pressure in the line just from the Water it contains. This Will be especially true on hilly land where `the couplings in valleys will have a high gravity pressure. When couplings anzi-eases `9 ofthe types previously showin :are :twisted in :the Way which normally will uncouple them, the fluid pressure against the gasket prevents the gasket and the locking yspring from moving back to release the male zcoup'le'r. The apparatus of Figs. 13 to y15 is addressed to this problem.

Here the male coupler f2 is "substantially like the coupler 1.2,"having .a .balllike portion 42B. The .female coupler i3 is different. It is made ,in two pieces, with a ring section M5 anda "ase section 425, having intermittent mating ads 41E and 424, by which they may be joined together or taken apart.

The coupler base section 425 has a radiallyared substantially vertical shoulder Q26, and a cylindrical section 421, where the intermittent threads 424 are located near the outer edge. The coupler ring section M includesa short cylindrical portion 411, with the intermittent threads 4|6 and a plurality of holes M8 where a spanner Wrench may be inserted for turning the ring section M5 relatively to the base section 2125 to connect or disconnect the parts. The ring section I5 also has the inclined, inwardly tapered, substantially conical section 428 which is bent inn wardly to form a lip M29.

This coupler works like those already described,

except for one feature. If the pressure of water standing in the pipes prevents the normal uncoupling, the pipes can be uncoupled by inserting a spanner wrench into the holes H8 and rotating the ring section M5 relatively to the base section $25. The intermittent threads will disengage and the ring section M5 will separate from the base section 425. (See Fig. 14.) The spring All@ will then slide out on the ball 420 as the latter is removed from the female member. rl'he spring Mt and ring section M5 may be removed from the ball Q26, and the ring section M5 may be rethreaded in place of the base section 425.

All the couplings described in this application are characterized by their ability to be displaced angularly without causing leaks, without causing the joint to become uncoupled, and without bringing restorative forces into play which would tend to make the coupling members come into axial alignment. The fact that the male element is substantially a ball where it is engaged by the locking spring, means that disalignment of two adjacent sections of pipe will not affect the locking action of the spring. Nor will this interfere with the gaskets sealing ability. The ball cannot transmit any force which would tend to make the pipe sections move from the deiiected position in which they were set when first coupled together.

This is illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 where two pairs of couplers are shown displaced. The displacement in the upper direction is shown in full lines in section and the displacement in the lower direction is shown in dotted lines. As illustrated here, the diameter of the ball portion, the number of degrees of included angle of the spherical segment, will be substantially the angle vof total equilibrium angular 'displacement Where .theangle is 15, about 7l/2 displacement is possible in teach direction. Where the angle is about 30, about iffdispl'acement infevery direction is possible.

.In lFig. 16 the ball 52s of the finale coupler 512 -is shown in its 'eXtreme positions of axial d-i'sa-lignm'ent, Thebe'll tt 'of thefemale coupler '5113 includes 'a `stop ring 521 and has a gasket 53d and spring ttt. In all positions of the ball 526i Ythere is :the same pressure on the gasket '53o and the spring 54d, and there is no tendency for the coupling to come apart or to straighten itself back into alignment, because the ball 52) is substantially spherical. The ball 520 will also tend in all positions to rest on the stop ring 521, and thus the strain on the gasket 538 is not increased when the pipe is disaligned.

In Fig. 17 the pipe is the same size as vthe pipe in Fig. 16, but the ball tt of the coupler SI2 is of larger diameter. The female coupler dit is correspondingly larger, its bell 62d, stop ring t2?, gasket E39 and spring 64e also being larger. As a result further stable disalignment is possible, as the drawing shows. The angle here is substantially larger than in the coupling in Fig. 16. The coupling remains stable in its disaligned positions and it is free from restorative torque as well as free from strain on the gasket, spring, etc. It will not become uncoupled by this clisalignment.

Having described and illustrated several embodiments of the invention, we claim as our invention:

1. A readily separable, positive interlocking pressure actuated pipe coupling comprising telescopcally arranged bell and spigot portions; the spigot portion having an annular enlargement providing a generally spherical surface facing the free end of the bell portion, the bell portion having an interior compression Wall sloping toward its free end and toward the axis of the portions and terminating in an inturned flange at the free end thereof, and having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said enlargement; a deformable resilient locking element within said bell portion having a plurality oi radially extending circuznierentially spaced substantially radially rigid narrow locking portions resiliently connected into an annulus in which each such narrow portion is deiectable out or" its locking position upon relative rotation of said bell and spigot portions about their longitudinal axis, and which locking element when in locking position against said inturned flange has an effective inside locking diameter less than the outside diameter of said annular enlargement; and an annular pressure responsive gasket having rearwardly extending sealing lips, slidable within the bell portion rearwardly of said locking element and engageable with said spigot portion and initially operative upon pressure being applied tending to separate the portions to move said locking element along said. wall to said ilange and compress said locking element into operative interlocking engagement withsaid enlargement and said flange.

2. The coupling according to claim l, in which said locking element is a helically wound coil spring.

3. The coupling according to claim l in which the inner lip of said annular gasket has a free 11 sliding fit on the enlargement on said spigot portion, so that the gasket will move relatively faster toward the ange on said bell portion than does said enlargement when fluid pressure is introduced into the coupling.

4. The coupling according to claim 1 in which said bell portion consists of two pieces with said sloping compression wall and said inturned ange comprising one of said pieces, and means for releasably securing said last named piece to the other piece, whereby said last named piece may be removed for separation of said coupling re- 12 gardless of the existence of fluid under pressure in the coupling.

ROGER M. SHERMAN. ALEXANDER S. MULLGARDT. CLOYD E. GRAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 2,259,453 Beyer oct. 21, 1941 2,398,399 Alexander Apr. 16, 1946 2,460,032 Risley Jan. 25, 1949 

